Image forming apparatus and image forming method capable of printing images without spaces therebetween

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming part to form a plurality of images having image areas on a printing medium, a transferring part to transfer the printing medium through the image forming part, and a controller to control the image forming part and the transferring part to stop the transferring of the printing medium if, during sequentially forming the plurality of images, one of the image areas corresponds to a space, and to control the image forming part and the transferring part to restart the transferring of the printing medium if an image area does not correspond to the space.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 10-2006-0084871, filed Sep. 4, 2006 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]Aspects of the present invention relate to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of performing printing of images without spaces therebetween.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In general, an image forming apparatus (such as a printer, a photocopier, a facsimile, or a multifunctional device,) forms an image on printing media based on a printing image of a printing object. The printing image can be transmitted from a host apparatus like a computer system. The host apparatus obtains the printing image by scanning an image from a copying object or a scanning object, or can be received through a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]An aspect of the present invention provides an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of rapidly outputting a printing outcome when performing printing of images without spaces therebetween.

Problems solved by technology

Accordingly, in the case that a user does not want a space to be printed instead of a real image, there is a problem because printing paper, ink, and / or toner is wasted.

In addition, according to the conventional image forming apparatus, even if the real image is printed without printing the spaces in the original document image, the printing is still performed as a page unit, thereby causing another problem.

However, when the printing is performed in this way, printing is not performed until at least a printing image corresponding to one full page size is completed.

Accordingly, there is a problem because this gathering process takes a long time to obtain a printing outcome.

Also, this problem becomes serious if a user wants to print more than one page, because the conventional image forming apparatus requires even more time to gather enough images to print out multiple pages without spaces.

Images